These three books chosen by Anne Coates are perfect for readers who have graduated to chapter books or for children who love being read to.
Small Fry by David Baddiel
Every weekend Benny Burns helps his dad by working at their burger van, parked outside the local football ground. Then something wonderful happens when he discovers his grandfather’s old recipe book. Following its instructions, Benny starts cooking amazing food – so good, in fact, that Bodley Bonkers, the CEO of fast food giant Bonkers Burgers! sees Benny and his burgers as a threat that must be eliminated at all costs.
And so, along with his dad and his two best friends, Jasper and Mina, Benny must find a way to defeat Bonkers Burgers, help rescue his dad’s business, and share his passion for cooking with the world – a mission that leads to him competing with the world’s greatest chef to cook the best burger.
A brilliantly funny and heart-warming story.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
HarperCollins Children's Books will publish Small Fry on 8 May when it will be in bookshops or you can preorder now from Amazon.*
The First Kid in Space by Tom Mitchell
When an unfortunate incident in a space shuttle simulator turns twelve year old Franklin Wilson into an accidental viral sensation, he attracts the attention of Xavier Drake, the third richest person in the world, who invites Franklin to take part in a competition to become the actual first kid in space.
But after the competition launches, and the five young contestants begin to compete in a series of trials that will see them eliminated one by one until only the winner remains, Franklin discovers that everything is not what it seems – and it turns out there is much more at stake than just a trip to space…
Hilarious, fast-paced, The First Kid in Space is an out-of-this-world action-packed adventure.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, The First Kid in Space is available from bookshops and Amazon.*
The Kid Who Fell Through Time by Greg James & Chris Smith
History has always seemed pretty boring to Angus. Who cares about things that happened thousands of years ago? Totally pointless! That’s what Angus thinks until the day he accidentally falls into a shopping trolley and ends up travelling through time with Marge, the lady who runs the cheese counter at the local supermarket, and who is also from the future!
And so begins an epic adventure for Angus – exploring a market in Roman Britain, hanging out with Shakespeare, making new friends in Ancient Egypt. Oh, and trying to escape the Evil Emperor Kragg from the 99th Century who is determined to destroy the planet. Now that is a problem Angus had never envisaged – will he and his new friends make it out of the past unscathed?
History as you never imagined it!
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Published by Puffin Books, The Kid Who Fell Through Time is available from bookshops and Amazon*
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